On March 23, 1926, President Calvin Coolidge pressed a button during a ceremony at the White House. He activated, for the first time, Cushman Dam No. 1, a project that began in 1919. At times, over 500 men worked on the project commissioned by Tacoma Power, a division of Tacoma Public Utilities a municipally-owned entity responsible for powering the metropolis of Tacoma, some 40 miles away. 

The Cushman Project began in response to the economic and housing boom that followed WWI, and Cushman Dam was built under the direction of Ira S. Davisson, commissioner. The hydroelectric power it provides travels on a forty-mile transmission line, which includes an impressive feat of spanning the Tacoma Narrows strait in the Salish Sea, and the suspension spans 6,244 feet of water

The power station is located at Potlatch, right alongside Highway 101, and though motorists may want to slow down to gawk at the historic building, they are forced to anyway if they want to  cross over the short but very narrow bridge that spans the spillway.

The dam itself is essentially a broadening of the North Fork Skokomish River’s cut through a glacial trough that was naturally dammed by a terminal moraine, courtesy of the last ice age during the Vashon stage. The Skokomish River, or “The Skok” (pronounced sk-oh-ck), as locals call it, originates in the snow-capped Olympic Mountains.

The dam design uses a concrete arch and gravity embankment, and over 90,000 cubic yards of concrete were poured during its construction. Cushman Dam No.1 has a top width of eight feet and a base width of 50 feet. It is 275 feet high and 1,111 feet long.

A second smaller dam, Cushman Dam No. 2, was completed by December 1930 and divides Lake Cushman into two separate parts: the “upper lake,” Lake Cushman, and the “lower lake” dubbed Lake Kokanee. 

The 23 miles of shoreline that surrounds Lake Cushman is sprinkled with dwellings of all types, from cabins to expansive second homes, to RV’s and tiny houses, and of course, is a great place to buy a mobile home in a Lake Cushman subdivision.

There are 24 of them that were platted in the 1960s by property owner, Tacoma Power. The utility company leases the land to homeowners and recreational lot enthusiasts in a 99-year lease. The utility company hasn’t said what will become of the land when the lease is up in 2065. That hasn’t stopped the almost 3,000 property owners in the area who care not about the stipulations of tomorrow and just want to enjoy the area today and live “the good life.”

That being said, you can see why buying a mobile home in a Lake Cushman subdivision is a good idea. It is one of the more modest investments you can make in the subdivisions and on leased land being a tad conservative is likely wise. But for property-seekers who are willing to take the risk, a mobile home in a Lake Cushman subdivision pays off big time.

The subdivisions are governed by the Lake Cushman Maintenance Company (LCMC), the administrator of the area’s Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions, and are largely tasked with the maintenance and upkeep of the subdivision’s roads, utilities, and amenities. 

There are two private parks on the upper part of Lake Cushman, and one on the lower lake, Lake Kokanee, with numerous boat launches available throughout.

Park amenities include swimming areas, boat launches, docks, grassy knolls, playground equipment, volleyball courts, basketball, badminton, and horseshoe pits. Gazebos are available for first-come-first-served use and can be rented for private events by subdivision residents as well.

The lower Lake Kokanee is stocked year-round and provides excellent fishing and kayaking. A year-round waterfall makes a great destination to paddle toward and especially rages in the spring.

The Lake Cushman subdivision amenities provide private access all along the Lake Cushman reservoir and water sports and fishing (if you have a downrigger because it’s deep) is a popular recreation activity.

Other amenities include an 18-hole golf course operated by LCMC, and also a fire department and medical first-responders that jointly share responsibilities with the nearby town of Hoodsport.

To buy a mobile home in a Lake Cushman subdivision makes the most sense. Of all of the dwelling types at the lake, this is a great choice for retirees and recreationalists. Here’s why:

• Mobile homes are the smaller of investments when it comes to properties at Cushman

• Mobile homes are easy to upkeep since they don’t have a lot of bells and whistles, or nooks and crannies

• Since the land is leased, buying a mobile home in a lake Cushman subdivision is less risky

• There are many mobile home properties to choose from

• Minimal upkeep is a bonus since most folks are retired or buying a mobile home as a vacation property